County Court judge sentences 3 to state prison
Former nurse says drug addictions have been her downfall
ALBION – Three people were sentenced to state prison today for felony crimes committed in Orleans County.
One of those sentenced includes a former nurse who said her life has been in a downward spiral due to drug addictions the past five years.
Marcie Conlon, 43, of Holley in December pled guilty to attempted forgery in the second degree. She was sentenced to 1 1/2 to 3 years in state prison today by Judge James Punch.
She was working as nurse manager in the wellness center of the Iroquois Job Corps Center in Shelby on April 2, 2015 when she said she falsely completed a physician’s sheet, writing a prescription for a student, and then used the Ativan, a prescription for anxiety, for herself.
“This is yet another example of how drugs can destroy a person’s life,” Dominic Saraceno, Conlon’s attorney, told Punch during sentencing.
Conlon told the judge her substance abuse started five years ago. She was first convicted of forgery in Yates County in 2012, and several other arrests have followed.
She apologized for her criminal history, and said the drug addictions over the past five years have cost her “everything.”
Punch said Conlon has had many chances to overcome her drug addictions.
“You’ve been given one opportunity after another,” Punch told her. “At some point you have to look at your yourself and say something’s wrong here.”
Punch also told Conlon she shouldn’t attribute addictions for all of her problems.
“Don’t be so comfortable blaming it on the drugs,” the judge said. “This is your fault.”
• A Medina man was sentenced to 4 years in prison, the maximum as part of a plea deal, after he admitted to selling cocaine in Albion on Feb. 16, 2016 at the Save-A-Lot parking lot.
Eddie Joe Nichols, 61, of West Avenue pled guilty in December to attempted criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree.
Punch said Nichols is a second felony offender with a lengthy criminal history.
“I can say you are a drug dealer looking at your history,” Punch said. “But you are a life-long career criminal and I will sentence you for as long as I can.”
Nichols asked to be spared from a $325 court surcharge because he is on disability, but Punch insisted Nichols pay the full amount, as well as a $50 DNA fee.
• Adam Gallo, 31, of Eagle Harbor Road in Albion was sentenced to 1 ½ years in prison despite his request to be sentenced to weekends in jail so he could continue his lawn mowing and property maintenance business.
Gallo admitted in December to selling “wax,” a highly potent form of concentrated marijuana on Aug. 9. He pled guilty to criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fifth degree and could have been sentenced to 2 ½ years in prison.
Gallo, in an emotional statement, apologized to the court, his family, his girlfriend and the community for the selling the potent marijuana.
Gallo said he made a “terrible mistake” and told Punch, “I promise you will never see me in your court again.”
Punch said Gallo has already twice been on probation. The judge was also upset that Gallo allegedly posted on social media a contract with a confidential informant used by the Orleans County Major Felony Crime Task Force.
“When posting contracts between police and an informant the only motivation was to bring harm to that person,” Punch said.
